Binder-lock



l C. R. FARGO.

BI'NDER LOCK.

APPL1cAT1oN FILED 111N.15,1917.

Patented Mar. 23,1920.

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@mf/62M@ UNITED sTATEs PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES It. FARGO, or CHICAGO, ILLiNOIs, AssIGNon To WILSON-JONES Loosn LEAF COMPANY, A CORPORATION or ILLINOIS.

BINDER-LOCK.

g Specification of Letters Patent. 1331591111311 B131', 23, 1920,

Application led January 15, 1917. Serial No. 142,360.

To all 'whom t may concern.' 'g

Be it known that I, CHARLES R. FARGO, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Binder-Locks; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and eXact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the numerals of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to an improved type of automatic lock for holding the binder members of a loose leaf binder removabl connected with one another, said loci adapted to be moved into unlocked position to release the binder members and permit the same to again be brought together, to interlock with one another.

It is an object therefore of this invention to construct a non-expansible binder wherein an automatically acting spring impelled locking device is disposed at each end of the binder adapted to lock the binder sections together when the binder sections are moved toward one another.

It is also an object of this invention tO construct a binder comprising binder sections or tray cover members releasably associated with one another and adapted to be locked in connected relation by means of locking devices mounted at each end of the binder and concealed from view, operating automatically to lock the sections together when the same are assembled, and yet manually retractable to release said binder see tions for separation thereof when desired.

It is a further object of this invention to construct a locking mechanism for a binder y adapted to lock the binder sections together automatically when the binder sections are moved into closed relation with one another, and with the mechanism manually retractable to release said binder sections for separation from one another.

(')ther and further important objects of the invention will. be apparent from the disclosure in the drawings and specification.

The invention (in a preferred form) is illustrated in the drawings and hereinafter' more fully described.

Cn the drawings: Figure 1 is a reduced top plan view of a4 binder embodying the principles of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional detail on line 2-2 of Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a transverse section on line 3-3 of Fig. 1, with parts in elevation.

Fig. 4@ is a fragmentary View illustrating one of the locking tongues of one of the binder sections.

Fig. 5 is an interior view of one of the binder sections showing the locking mechanism mounted in position.

Fig. 6`is an opposite view thereof with parts in section and parts broken away.

Fig. 7 is a detail section on line 7-7 of Fig. 5, with parts omitted.

Fig. 8 is an opposite view of the locking mechanism shown attached upon the binder section in Fig. 5.

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 3, showing a modified `form of locking device.

Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 5, of the modified form of locking device.

Fig. l1 is a detail sectional View on line 11--11 of Fig. 9.

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary top plan view of the locking `device on the binder shown in Fig. 9.

Fig. 13 is a view similar to Fig.- 10, of a modified form of looking device.

Fig. 14C is a view similar to Fig. 11. of the modified form of locking device shown in Fig. 13.

Fig. 15 is a detail view showing one end of a bindel1 section forming a part of the mechanisms shown in Figs. 1 to 8, inclusive.

Fig. 16 is a fragmentary interior view of a. portion of one of the binder sections.

As shown on the drawings:

The hinder comprises two binder sections, each of 'angular cross-section, one compris ing an upright portion 1, and a bottom or back plate 2, and the other comprising an upright portion 3, and a bottom or back plate 4t, the outer margins of each of the respective binder sections being beaded over and cut away at spaced distances, as indicated by the reference numerals 5 and 6, respectively, affording hinge members for connection of binder covers thereto. Attached in position on the inner concealed surface of the upright portion 8, of one hinder section, is a bracket 7, disposed directly over a slot 8, in saidnpright position. Slidable in said bracket 7, is a latch bolt 9, the lower end of which is. beveled ofi?, and disposed above` said latch bolt 9, is a compression the upper end of the bracket 10.

An actuating knob or linger piece 12, is threaded or otherwise secured to said latch bolt 9, and is slidable in a slot 13, provided in the upright portion 8, of the binder section', whereby said latch bolt may be retractedinto releaseposition. The extreme end margins of the back'plate t, of one of the' binder sections are bent upwardly and yinwardly as denoted by the reterence` numeral 14, engaging over the end margins of the plate 2, of the other binder section,

thereby affording a slidable connection between saidrespeetive binder sections. The binder plate 2, oi one of the sections 1s provided with tongues 15, adapted to engage through the slots S, beneath the latch bolts 9, and eachV tongue is provided with a small latch. aperturey or slot 16, therein, to receive the latch bolts projected into locking en gagement therethrough. When the binder sections are in locked relation, the parts are in the position shown Ain Figs. 1 and 3, and the binder. or impaling posts, denoted by the reference numeral 17, are held attached between the binder sections in any suitable and well' known manner.

' Inthe modified form of device illustrated in Figs. 9 to 12, inclusive, the binder sections each consists oitY a metal plate bent to angular cross-section, one having an upright portion denoted. by the reference numeral v1S, and a base plate or back portion 19, and the other-having an upright portion 20, and a base plate or backportion 21. As in the previous construction, the end margins of the plate 21, are bent upwardly and inwardly over the end margins of the plate 19, thus affording a sliding connection between the back plate portions of the binder sections. At each end of one of the binder sections a bracket 23, is secured upon the rear surface of the upright portion 20, and slidable therein is a detent or latch bolt 24, the lower end of which is chamfered off and the upper end of which is bent at right angles and projects outwardly through a bayonet slot 25, aording an actuating finger piece for retraction of the latch bolt. A compression spring 26, is coiled about the latch bolt or detent 24, beneath thev upper portion of the bracket 23, and acts normally to impel said latch bolt or detent downwardly. A slot 27, is provided in the upright portion 20, of said binder section, to

permit projection therethrough of a slotted tongue 28, whereby said latch bolt 24, may be locked therewith.

In the modified form of device illustrated in Figs. 13 and 141-, a different type ot bracket, denoted by the reference numeral 29, is secured upon the rear surface ot the upright portion 20, or' the binder section, wherein the latch bolt 24, of the construction shown in Figs. 9 to 12, inclusive, is mounted. However, instead of the bayonet slot 25, a straight slot 30, is used, but the construction is otherwise the same.

Fig. lillustrates the manner in which shell members 31, are attached upon the respective upright portions of the binder sections on the exterior faces thereof. The means of attachment consists or' a screw or bolt 32, engaged through an aperture in the upright portion of a binder section and threaded into a retaining block 33, which is engaged within the channel shaped shell member to clamp the same closely in stationary relation upon the exterior surface of the binder section.

rl`he operation is as follows:

The binder sections are held slidably engaged to one another by insertion of the back plate portion of one between the inturned end margins of the other, and when said binder sections are closed toward one another, the tongues 15, on one section, slide through the slots S, on the upright portion or' the other section, automatically latching beneath the detente or latch bolts 9, which are spring impelled, there being one provided at each end of the binder section. iith said sections locked together the same are non-expansible except as unlocked for separation of the parts.

When it is desired to separate the binder sections, to remove or interchange the leaves of the binder or for any other purpose whatsoever, the linger knobs 12, are thrust upwardly, thus retracting the respective latch bolts or detents 9, and the binder sections may then be readily drawn apa rt,

ln the modified 'forni ot structure illustrated in Figs. 9 to 12, inclusive, I have shown a latch bolt or detent oi. slightly dit ferent construction, which, instead of being rectangular, as the bolt 9, previously dcscribed, is cylindrical, so as to be slidable as well as pivotal in its supporting bracket on the back of the upright plate ofi the binder section. Consequently, when it is desired to separate the binder sections, the finger knob of the latch bolt is thrust upwardly, and then moved outwardly, so that the bent portion of the latch bolt engages in the bayonet slot 25, and the latch is thereby held in retracted position. In again latching the binder sections together, the sections are thrust toward one another,

knobs onthe latch bolts may then be thrust and the finger inwardly out of the offset portions of the bayonet slots, permitting the bolts to lock with the tongues 9.8,.under the impulse of the springs, and in the same manner as pre viously described.

Of course, it is not necessary that the latch bolts 24, be swung into the unlatched position and so retained as obviously, after release oit the binder sections, the latch bolts may be released, and then when the binder sections are assembled in closed relation, the latch bolts will automatically interlock with the slotted tongues to latch the binder sections together.

In the slightly modified form of device illustrated in Figs. 13 and 14, I have shown substantially the same construction with the exception that a ditl'erent type of supporting bracket 'for the latch bolt is shown, and instead oi the bayonet slots 25, a simple straight slot 307 is provided, which merely permits manual elevation of the latch bolt to unlock the binder sections. When the binder sections are closed together, the latch bolt, due to its tapered end, automatically interloclis with the slotted tongue of the opposite binder section to lock the binder sections to one another.

'I am aware that various details of construction may be varied through a wide fange without departing from the principles oi this invention, and I therefore do not purpose limiting the patent granted otherwise than necessitated by the prior' art.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a device of the class described, a pair of slidably connected non-expansible binder sections, slotted tongues integrally formed on one thereof, means on the other thereo'l:l to receive said tongues therein, and automatically acting latch bolts on the other thereof manually retractable adapted to engage said tongues to loch said binder sections one to another.

2. In a device oi the class described, a pair oil' separable slidably connected binder sections, slotted tongues provided on one thereot, the other of said sections having slots to receive said tongues projected therethrough, and latch bolts adapted to automatically engage with said slotted tongues when projected through said slots to lock said binder sections in assembled relation.

In a binder lock of the class described the combination with non-expansible binder sections, ot locking devices concealed in each end oi one of said sections, the other section lbeing adapted to be projected through slots in said first section into engagement with said devices to automatically interlock therewith and retain said sections locked to one another in fixed relation against further adjustment.

4f. In a device of the class described the combination with a pair ofbinder sections, of automatic spring impelled locking devices associated with one thereof, co-acting means on the other of said sections adapted to automatically interlock with said devices when said sections are assembled together, and means between said sections permitting manual retraction of said devices to unlock said sections and permit separation thereof.

5. In a device of the class described, a pair of binder sections slidably associated with one another, each ot said binder sec tions substantially of angular' shape, spring impelled locking means slidablymounted on one of said binder sections, and apertured tongues formed on the other ot said sections adapted to be projected through slots in said first mentioned section into engagement with said locking means and to automatically interlock therewith to lock said binder sections in assembled relation.

6. In a device of the class described cooperative sections having iiat plate eXtensions which form the back of a binder when assembled. slotted tongues formed on one of said plate extensions, and recess locking mechanism on the other of said sections to receive said tongues therein in interlocking relation to lock said sections one to another.

7. A binder comprising separable sections adapted to be interlocked in fixed relation with one another against further adjustment, comprising angled plate members each having a flat plate portion one adapted to overlie the other to form the back of the binder, tongues formed on one of said plate portions and having slots therein and releasable locking mechanism associated with the other of said sections to receive said tongues engaged the-rein and automatically locked to retain said sections in assembled relation.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my naine in the presence of. two subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES R. FARGO.

lVitnesses CHARLES W. HILLS, Jr., EARL M. I'IARDINE. 

